Has anyone done the 5 1/2 hr ferry boat from Flam to Bergen which stops at various small towns along the way to Flam? Is it especially scenic or not really? I've done the traditional Bergen train/bus/boat to Flam and onward to complete NIN in the past.
Here's what I was thinking of doing: First I'll be in the Lofoton Islands in the Arctic Circle for 4 days then fly to Bergen.
Bergen to Myrdal train. 07:21 -- 09:21.am. Cost: NOK-359 ($38 US dollars). wander around Myrdal photographing area briefly
Myrdal scenic train to Flam 10:07 -- 11:07 am. Cost:: NOK -450 ($47)
Taxi (unsure of price but think it is around NOK 450 ($50) (cheap public $6 bus probably won't get me to Gudvagen in time for 12 pm ferry back to Flam with only 6 minutes to walk from bus stop to ferry)
Gudvagen scenic fjord boat to Flam. 12:00pm - 2:00 pm. NOK570 ($59)
Flam to Bergen 5 1/2 hr ferry back to Bergen. 3:30 pm - 9 pm NOK 1040 ($108, 1/2 price if 67+ yrs. old so $54 which includes ME).
If I just do the traditional Norway in the Nutshell from Bergen to Bergen in one day, it is easier to do the 8:30 am train to Voss, connect with public bus to Gudvagen, Ferry in time for the 12 pm ferry, arriving at 2pm into Flam and immediately catching the scenic train to Myrdal that then connects to the regular train to Bergen arriving at 6:30pm or 9 pm depending on whether any time is spent in Flam, for about $208 in August 2022. My time is tight so I am not spending the night in Flam because I've seen it before. I LOVE my favorite Norwegian city Bergen for 1 1/2 days. I fly from Bergen to Vilnius, Lithuania then to Riga & Tallin flying back to Oslo to catch flight back to the U.S. I have been to Norway 4 other times so I've seen the other tourist areas of Trondheim, Oslo and some of the fjords years ago. Traditional Norway in a Nutshell $208 vs. incorporating the ferry back to Bergen instead of bus train. $198 or $248 if under 67 yrs. old, + about approx. $50 taxi Flam to Gudvagen). So I'm thinking that for $40 more I can enjoy a boat back to Bergen seeing the beauty along the way and various ports (5 or 6) in small villages from the water. Does anyone have opinions on the boat ferry from Flam to Bergen??????? I hope that this gives other travelers ideas about the optional trips.
Posted by
Washington DC
28249 posts
I have not taken the express boat from Flam to Bergen, but I believe a few other posters here have. With luck you'll hear from one of them.
What I've read in guidebooks is that the scenery from the express boat isn't outstanding along most of the route because the fjord widens out. The first part of the trip out of Flam is nice, but you will have already traveled that part of the route via the Flam-Gudvangen ferry.
My gut reaction to the $50 taxi estimate for the ride between Flam and Gudcangen is that it sounds low, but that is based on zero personal experience, and I see that Rome2Rio estimates $45-$55. I've found that website alarmingly inaccurate in many respects, but for all I know its taxi-fare projections could be quite good. However, I found a nine-year-old TrioAdvisor thread with a fare estimate over 400 NOK (about $40), and I'd expect more than a 25% increase since then. In any case, keep in mind that the taxi would have to be pre-arranged. I spent two nights in Flam in June and never noticed a taxi--not that I was looking for one.
I wouldn't want to have to rely on such a tight bus-to-boat connection either, but the Line 950 bus stops right at the ferry dock, so it might well work out. Although buses can be delayed (my bus to the Borgrund Church was 20 minutes late), I believe the Bus 950 just runs back and forth between the two villages, and it is designed to meet the ferry. There are also non-tourist buses linking Flam and Gudvangen. They don't make the detour to the Stalheim hotel, and they stop some distance from the dock.
Posted by
West Coast
302 posts
I don't want to be inaccurate- I opted to take the "Express Boat" from Flam to Bergen to complete the NIN pre-Covid in mid July. Is this what you mean? It was 5+ hours? It stopped at Balestrand briefly but it's been long enough I don't have clear memories beyond that- other than it was VERY long! It was lovely at the start and a beautiful sunny afternoon- after the first couple hours it widened to just seem like any big river. I hope this proves useful!
Posted by
Washington DC
28249 posts
That's the boat, Karen.
Posted by
Paris
10298 posts
I took the boat in the opposite direction last August. I think it really just depends on what works better for your timing, especially since you have seen these areas before. It's a convenient and fun way to get around but no it doesn't have the spectacular views the whole time.